Transformer trailer

Abstract

A heavy load transport vehicle which has the ability of transforming from a flat-bed trailer into a multiple-automobile transporter, having a hydraulic-powered retractable upper deck; hydraulic-powered lift arms that are designed to allow the vehicle to transport wide loads and to be loaded from the side of the lower deck; a stabilizer system which minimizes or eliminates lateral movement of the vehicle during operation on the road; a truss assembly that is designed to synchronize the action of the hydraulic-powered lift arms; and a cable pulley system which assists in the raising of the front end of the upper deck.

We claim:  
     
       1. A load transporting vehicle comprising: 
       a lower deck having opposite sides, a set of wheels located at and supporting a rear portion of said lower deck, and means located at a front end of the lower deck for supporting a front portion of the lower deck;  
       an upper deck having opposite sides and disposed above the lower deck;  
       moving means for moving the upper deck between a raised, unretracted position and a lowered, fully retracted position; and  
       a cable pulley system cooperating with the moving means for assisting in raising the front end of said upper deck, the cable pulley system comprising:  
       a plurality of pulleys mounted at opposite sides of the upper and lower decks;  
       at least one pulley mounted at each of two vertical guide posts which are mounted perpendicularly at opposite sides of the lower deck; and  
       a cable entrained over the pulleys at each respective side.  
     
     
       2. A vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing means for preventing the upper deck from moving in a direction transversely of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the stabilizing means comprises: 
       said two vertical guide posts which are mounted perpendicularly to the lower deck, each said guide post having a vertical track that runs along the entire length of each guide post;  
       steel rollers which are mounted to the upper deck and roll along the vertical tracks of said guide posts; and  
       a stabilizer trussing secured to the lower deck and said guide posts.  
     
     
       3. A load transporting vehicle comprising: 
       a lower deck having a set of wheels supporting the rear portion of said vehicle located near the rear end of the lower deck and a means for supporting the front portion of the lower deck located at the front end of the lower deck;  
       an upper deck; and  
       a means by which the upper deck is supported above the lower deck and the upper deck is adjusted between a raised, unretracted position and a lowered, fully retracted position, comprising:  
       a plurality of hydraulic cylinders which are each pivotably connected to the lower deck by a bolt;  
       a plurality of lift-arms which are each pivotably connected at one end to the lower deck and pivotably connected at their other end to one of the hydraulic cylinders and the upper deck; and  
       a means for preventing the upper deck from moving in a direction transversely of the vehicle longitudinal access, which is a stabilizer track system comprising:  
       two vertical guide posts which are mounted perpendicularly to the lower deck and which each have a vertical track that runs along the entire length of each guide post;  
       steel rollers which are mounted to the upper deck and roll along the vertical tracks of said guide posts; and  
       a stabilizer trussing secured to the lower deck and said guide posts.  
     
     
       4. A vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein said hydraulic cylinders are driven by a self-contained hydraulic pump. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein said self-contained hydraulic pump operates using battery power from at least one battery that is charged by another vehicle which serves as a towing device for pulling the load transporting vehicle. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein said self-contained hydraulic pump operates using battery power from at least one battery that is charged by a driving means by which the transport vehicle is self-propelled. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for supporting the front portion of the lower deck comprises a coupling for linking the load transporting vehicle to a towing device. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle according to  claim 3 , having a cable pulley system for assisting in raising the front end of said upper deck as said lift arms raise said upper deck, comprising a pair of cables and a plurality of pulleys mounted to said vehicle. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein said cables are each attached at one end to a loading surface of the upper deck and are attached at their other end to the underside of the upper deck. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one end of each said cable is attached to the outer edges of the upper deck. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of pulleys comprises at least two pulleys that are mounted upon the outer edges of the upper deck at each side of the vehicle, at least one pulley mounted upon each outer edge of the lower deck and at least one pair of lifting pulleys that are each mounted upon a respective one of said guide posts of said stabilizer track system and which provides a reversal of pulling power of the cable and assist the lifting of the upper deck as the lift arms are powered to lift the upper deck. 
     
     
       12. A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein said cables are each bolted to the upper deck by turn buckles which provide for adjustment as said cables stretch over time and after extensive use. 
     
     
       13. A vehicle according to  claim 3 , having a means for synchronizing the movement of said lift arms and hydraulic cylinders as the lift arms raise and lower the upper deck. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein said means for synchronizing the movement of said lift arms and hydraulic cylinders is a synchronizing truss assembly comprising a plurality of cross braces that connect each lift arm to its corresponding lift arm positioned on the opposite side of the vehicle and span across the underside of the vehicle in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a plurality of trusses that extend across the vehicle diagonally and connect the cross braces. 
     
     
       15. A vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein the total height of said upper deck in its fully retracted position is no greater than 42 inches from the surface upon which the vehicle travels.